Indonesian Military Headquarters Reveals Reasons for Reactivating Chief of Territorial Staff Position

Jakarta – The Indonesian Armed Forces Headquarters (Mabes TNI) has disclosed the rationale behind reactivating the position of Chief of Territorial Staff (Kaster) TNI, which had been abolished years earlier.

“The establishment of the Kaster TNI position is one effort to ensure the TNI organisation remains adaptable to the evolving dynamics of operational challenges,” stated TNI Spokesperson Brigadier General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah to Kompas.com on Friday, 13 March 2026.

Aulia explained that the Kaster TNI will assist the TNI Commander in formulating policies and executing territorial functions.

The position of Chief of Territorial Staff (Kaster) TNI has been reactivated approximately 25 years after it was eliminated from the TNI’s organisational structure.

The reactivation of the position forms part of an organisational restructuring within the TNI, which also includes reassignments of 27 senior officers (pati) and 8 mid-ranking officers (pamen).

The Kaster TNI position will be filled by Lieutenant General TNI Bambang Trisnohadi, who previously served as Commander of the Combined Regional Defence Command (Pangkogabwilhan) III.

According to Kompas.com’s investigation, the Kaster TNI position was previously abolished during the tenure of TNI Commander Admiral Widodo Adi Sutjipto.

The position was last held by Lieutenant General Agus Widjojo from 1999 to 2001, replacing Lieutenant General Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who served in the role from 1998 to 1999.